Imperialism in the First World War

During the 19th century parts of Europe were uniting into modern countries. Most countries needed resources to grow and become stronger but did not have enough in their own country so they had to colonise. Nationalism made people believe they were the best country even if they were doing the wrong things. A fight for power happened when all the European countries wanted to prove that they were stronger and more powerful than the other. An armaments race happened when the Germans started to envy Great Britain’s navy. In the late 19th century modern nations needed resources to fuel their growth so they turned to imperialism which made global war inevitable. Nationalism was one of the main reasons why Europe united into modern countries. People that spoke the same language, shared the same history, or had the same culture helped them start a country. Nationalism made people proud of their country. People cherished the idea of having a mission to fulfill. People would try to solve world problems to make their country look better. Countries built up their armies, and added more weapons for more power; to show that they were better or deserved more respect from other countries. When a country builds weapons it makes nations around it feel threatened. Usually when another country feels threatened they will try to defend themselves. Defense tactics could be building their own weapons, or making an alliance with another country; to protect them. Every country believed they were better than all the other countries but needed away to prove it to their citizens. So they made colonies everywhere, even if they weren’t bringing in a profit. They did it just to feel more powerful and look more powerful.

During the late 19th century European countries were going through their second Industrial revolution. This revolution had such high levels of manufacturing that nations couldn’t get all the materials they needed in their own lands. Nations needed a lot of resources to meet...

Bibliography: McGee, D.H. (2005). HIS 102 – Western Civilization II Lecture 8 – A New World Order: Imperialism and World War I [lecture]. Retrieved from courses.cvcc.vccs.edu/history_mcgee/courses/his102/his102ln08.html
Mills, W.G. Imperialism, Capitalism and World War I. [lecture]. Retrieved from stmarys.ca/~wmills/course203/11_Impm_WW1.html
Gollwitzerland, H.(1969). Europe in the Age of Imperialism. Great Britain: Jarrold and sons LTD.
Fletcher, R.(1984). Revisionism and Empire, Socialist Imperialism in Germany 1897-1914. London. George Allen & Unwin Ltd.
Baldwin, R.(2008) WESTERN IMERPIALISM. [lecture] Retrieved from socsci.gulfcoast.edu/rbaldwin/IMPERIALISM.htm

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